Donating food? Check expiration dates first

This is the time of year when local community groups often host food drives to fill local food pantry shelves. By keeping a few simple tips in mind, you can enhance the value of the food donations you make.

“It’s important to remember that donated food is most helpful if it is both safe and high quality,” says Barbara Ingham, food safety specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Make sure to check the dates on packages of foods that you donate, advises Ingham.

Quality or pack dates are often designated on packages by the words "Better if used by...” and a date. Look for these dates on packaged mixes, cold cereals, peanut butter, and increasingly, on canned items like fruits and vegetables. These dates mean that after the quality date, the food will begin to lose its flavor and may even develop an off flavor. Donate only foods that are well within the quality dates marked on the package.

Expiration dates include information such as "Expires 2/15/13" or "Do not use after 7/9/13." Look for these dates on vitamins, yeast, baking powder and cake mixes. Do not donate foods that are past their expiration date.

Pull dates. Example: "Sell by May 16.” Look for these dates on perishable, refrigerated foods such as milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, cream, eggs, lunchmeat and packaged salad mixes. Perishable foods, with the exception of garden produce, are usually not included in a food drive. If they are, choose foods that are well within the pull date.

Besides looking for a date, be sure to check the integrity of the package. To ensure that the food has not been contaminated, donate only foods from unopened packages. Avoid foods with packaging that shows signs of leakage or damage. Ingham urges consumers not to donate home-canned items, or canned items that have broken seams or large dents. Your donation only makes a difference in the life of someone in need if the product donated is within the date marked and of good quality. If you question the integrity of the product or wouldn’t feed it to your family, it is probably best not to donate it.

Amber Canto, Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program state coordinator, suggests avoiding sugary cereals, salty noodle mixes and fruit-flavored beverages that might be easy to donate, but difficult for families to include in nutritious meals. Instead, Canto urges consumers to donate foods that have a stable shelf life, are full of nutrients and easy to prepare. Good examples of foods to consider are:

Whole grain or enriched pasta and instant rice — either brown or enriched. Boxed noodle and rice dishes can be an easy starting point for a one-dish meal.

Whole grain crackers (especially reduced-sodium) and popcorn.

Spaghetti sauce, salsa and canned beans, including baked beans.

Reduced-sodium broth and soups.

Low-fat salad dressings or spreads, and condiments such as ketchup or mustard.

Baby food is a very welcome donation. Just be sure to donate well within the date marked on the containers.

"Food pantry guests are so grateful for the generosity and support from the community,” says Canto, "our donation of safe, high quality foods goes a long way in ensuring the ability to feed themselves and families good, nutritious meals."

Consider donating cash to food pantries. “Pantries can often get more for their dollars, address shortages and needs and focus on high quality products with some extra financial assistance,” says Canto. “Cash donations help food pantries offer the widest possible array of products to the individuals that they serve.”